Game top with transparent hemispherical spinning bearing containing a movable game element



Aug. 4, 1964 M. J. RUDERIAN 3,143,347

GAME TOP WITH TRANSPARENT HEMISPHERICAL SPINNING BEARING CONTAINING A MOVABLE GAME ELEMENT Filed Dec. 10, 1962 INVENTOR. MAX J. RUDERIAN ZZM 9 a) A TTORA/EYS United States Patent 3,143,347 GAME T01 WiTH TRANSPAPENT IEMISPEERI- CAL SFINNING BEARENG CGNTAENING A MQV- ABLE GAPE ELEMENT Max J. Ruderian, 545 Haniey, Los Angeles 49, Calif. Filed Dec. 10, 1952, Ser. No. 243,316 2 Claims. (til. 273-147) This invention relates generally to amusement devices I and more particularly to a novel top, wherein many different types of games may be played with the same basic structure.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a spinning type of top so designed as to come to rest in an indexed or pro-determined position of many possible positions so that symbols may be associated with all of the positions and the particular position in which the top comes to rest serve to indicate one of the symbols.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a top of the foregoing type in which the various symbols may be readily changed so that a variety of difierent types of games may be played with the same top structure.

Still another object is to provide a novel spinning bearing surface for the top which in itself also functions as a part of an amusement type of game when the structure is not being used as a top.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing a central fiat disc member having an uneven peripheral edge. Preferably, this uneven edge takes the form of scallops about the periphery of the disc so that pairs of points are provided, any two of which will serve to engage the ground and, in conjunction with the spinning bearing, support the top when it comes to rest.

Symbol means, preferably in the form of pages of a book, are arranged to be positioned on the upper surface of the top. A transparent housing is provided to protect and help hold the pages in place. The opposite or under side of the top, in turn, is provided with a hollow hemispherical transparent structure, the outer convex surface of which provides a spinning bearing surface for the entire structure.

One suitable set of symbols is selected from the various symbols available and positioned in the housing to be visible with the other pages of symbols folded underneath. The symbols themselves are positioned with respect to a central point to be in radial alignment with the respective scallops on the disc. Thus, spinning of the disc will enable one only of the particular symbols to be designated provided it is agreed in advance that the symbol will be chosen which is in alignment with the scallop engaging the ground after the top comes to rest.

The hemispherical spinning surface may also be used in conjunction with a movable element held therein as a simple toy when the top is not being used as a spinning toy.

A better understanding of the preferred embodiment of the invention will be had by now referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section taken in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the arbitrary position of the top after it has come to rest;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section illustrating a portion of the structure of FIGURE 2; and,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating one type of symbol media useable with the structure of FIGURES 1 and 2.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the changeable game top comprises a central flat disc having an uneven edge 3,143,347 Patented Aug. 4., 1964 preferably in the form of a series of scallops 11 extending about the entire periphery thereof over 360 degrees. On the upper side of the disc as shown in FIGURE 1, there is provided a transparant housing 12 which may take the form of a pill box structure. The opposite side of the disc 19 in turn is provided with a hemispherical bearing surface 13.

A game device may be provided by employing symbol means such as indicated at 14 under the housing 12. The hemispherical bearing surface 13 in turn may also serve as a part of a game means wherein movable elements such as dice 15 may be confined therein.

With particular reference now to FIGURE 2, the top structure is illustrated in an arbitrary position which it might assume when coming to rest after spinning. Thus, it is clear that one of the scallops defined between any two projecting points on the peripheral surface has engaged the floor F to support the side of the top in its stationary state.

It will be evident that if the various symbols on the symbol media 14 within the housing 12 are positioned in radial alignment with the various scallops 11, when the top comes to rest as illustrated in FIGURE 2, one of the symbols will be uniquely determined by the particular scallop portion engaging the floor. Thus, a variety of different games may be played, depending upon the par ticular type of symbol media employed.

In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the symbol media may be changed so that different games can readily be played with the same top structure. Towards this end, several difierent symbol media 14 may be made up and arranged to be supported one on top of the other by a central hub structure 16 within the housing 12. The housing 12 in turn is removably secured to the top.

With particular reference to FIGURE 3, the removable securing means comprises an annular holding structure 17 having an under cut or groove for receiving an outwardly directed bear 18 on the lower periphery of the housing. Thus, the transparent housing 12 may simply be snapped on to the disc 10 by urging the annular head or flange 18 under the structure 17.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a series of pages 14a-14e of symbol media which, in the embodiment chosen for illustrative purposes, may be secured together at corresponding peripheral points 19. With this arrangement, the symbol media essentially constitute pages of a book. The binding 19 for the book, however, is sufi'iciently flexible that any one of the faces of the various media may be positioned in an upward facing direction. The various pages are provided with central openings 14a through 14e' arranged to receive the central hub 16 when the various media are positioned. Since the binding 19 is flexible, it is possible to fold the sheet 14e over the top of the sheet 14a so that the rear side of the sheet 142 is visible. Similarly, any one of the other pages could be so folded with the others thereunder and either face thereof exposed for viewing through the transparent housing 12.

In the operation of the foregoing top, a desired symbol media is chosen and the pages folded accordingly and inserted on the hub 16. The housing 12 is then replaced by snapping the annular head 18 within the groove portion defined by the structure 17. The player then may simply spin the top about the convex hemispherical surface 13. This action is very simple and it is easy to impart a spinning motion. The spinning is not desirably fast so that the structure will come to rest relatively quickly with one of the scalloped portions 11 engaging the floor so that the top is tilted as shown in FIGURE 2 after coming to rest. The particular symbol in alignment with this scalloped portion as already heretofore described will then be designated, and this symbol may dictate a required act to be carried out by one of the players.

If it is desired to play a diiferent type of game, it is a simple matter to remove the housing 12 and the book shaped sheet members 14a through 14e and then refold them in such a manner as to expose new symbols.

In accordance with a feature of this invention, the scalloped portions 11 need not be uniform over 360 degrees. The points of some of the scallops such as 11a shown in FIGURE l may be farther apart. By this arrangement, the symbols in radial alignment with the Wider scallops will be favored since the probabilities are greater that the wider scallops will engage the floor when the top comes to rest.

The dice 15 constitute movable elements beneath the hemispherical spinning surface 13. When the structure is not being employed as a top, it is possible to simply turn over the disc 10 and shake the dice 15 under the transparent hemispherical shell 13 so that any well known dice game may be played.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the present invention has provided a novel changeable type game top meeting the basic objects of the invention set forth hereintofore.

While only one particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, various changes falling within the scope and spirit thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. The changeable game top is therefore not to be thought of as limited to the exact structure set forth merely for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

l. A game top comprising, in combination: a central flat Zdisc shaped member having a scalloped peripheral edge over 360 degrees; a transparent housing coupled to the top side of said disc; symbol means in said housing in which symbols are disposed about a central point in outward radial alignment with individual scallops defined by said scalloped edge; a spinning bearing means comprising a transparent hemisphere secured to the lower side of said disc to provide a bearing surface for spinning said disc about the axis of said disc, one of said scallops engaging the floor when said disc comes to rest, whereby the symbol in radial alignment with said scallop is arbitrarily determined; and at least one movable element in said hemisphere to provide a game when said top is not being used as a spinning top.

2. A game top according to claim 1, in which said transparent housing is removably secured to said disc and in which said symbol means comprise pages secured together at a peripheral portion and each having symbols whereby any one of the pages may be opened and the remaining folded thereunder and positioned in said housing so that said one page only is visible.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,139,119 Heidenreich May 11, 1915 1,370,682 Buys Mar. 8, 1921 1,501,276 Cruver July 15, 1924 2,015,649 Amell Oct. 1, 1935 2,083,703 Grumbacher June 15, 1937 2,086,697 Caesar July 13, 1937 2,194,010 Cooke Mar. 19, 1940 2,210,201 Draper et a1. Aug. 6, 1940 2,375,583 Pringle May 8, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 463,618 Italy May 19, 1951 

1. A GAME TOP COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A CENTRAL FLAT DISC SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A SCALLOPED PERIPHERAL EDGE OVER 360 DEGREES; A TRANSPARENT HOUSING COUPLED TO THE TOP SIDE OF SAID DISC; SYMBOL MEANS IN SAID HOUSING IN WHICH SYMBOLS ARE DISPOSED ABOUT A CENTRAL POINT IN OUTWARD RADIAL ALIGNMENT WITH INDIVIDUAL SCALLOPS DEFINED BY SAID SCALLOPED EDGE; A SPINNING BEARING MEANS COMPRISING A TRANSPARENT HEMISPHERE SECURED TO THE LOWER SIDE OF SAID DISC TO PROVIDE A BEARING SURFACE FOR SPINNING SAID DISC ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID DISC, ONE OF SAID SCALLOPS ENGAGING THE FLOOR WHEN SAID DISC COMES TO REST, WHEREBY THE SYMBOL IN RADIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID SCALLOP IS ARBITRARILY DETERMINED; TO PROVIDE A GAME WHEN SAID TOP IS NOT BEING USED AS A SPINNING TOP. 